Mart Poom has paid tribute to Sunderland's defence as the Black Cats currently have the best defensive record in the First Division.

Sunderland have conceded just 12 goals so far, and have kept 10 clean sheets in 18 games in their climb up the table to fifth place.

Their nearest rivals are Wigan, who have conceded 14, West Ham (15) and leaders West Brom (16).

But Estonia international goalkeeper Poom says his job has been made easy by Sunderland's back line.

Poom said: "Obviously it is great to be keeping clean sheets - there is nothing that goalkeepers like better - but it has been a real team effort.

"We defend as a team and our defence has been excellent, which has left me with little to do in quite a few games.

"Gary Breen has been very influential for us because he is so experienced and George McCartney has been playing very well since he moved to centre-back.

"But people shouldn't forget the contributions of Julio Arca, Darren Williams and Joachim Bjorklund as well because they have been excellent.

"We have had a very settled back four up to now and that has made a big difference because it has allowed the players to learn about each other's games. Hopefully we can keep it going for the rest of the season."

Last season Sunderland conceded 65 goals as they were relegated from the Premiership - the same number as West Brom - and no-one in the top flight conceded more.

When Poom became established as the club's No 1 goalkeeper at the start of this season, Sunderland hadn't kept a clean sheet since January and they only kept six throughout the whole of their relegation campaign, but this season it has been a different story.

Poom said: "This season Mick McCarthy has made us much tighter at the back and it has worked well.

"At the moment we are finding it tough to score goals so it has been even more important to keep clean sheets.

"When the goals aren't going in at the other end, a clean sheet is the difference between one point or no points."

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has hinted that he may be prepared to extend winger Stewart Downing's loan spell at Sunderland.

McClaren said: "Sunderland could extend the deal. He's there for a month and they've not asked about extending it yet.

"I'm delighted he's doing well up there. He's a Middlesbrough player and we want him in our first team eventually and the experience he's getting is doing him a lot of good."